Batted projectile apparatus



Feb. 1, 1966 B. ANDERSON, SR 3,232,613

BATTED PROJECTILE APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

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United States Patent 3,232,618 BATTED PROJECTILE APPARATUS Luther B.Anderson, Sr., 30 Adams Hill Road, Asheville, N.C. Filed Mar. 6, 1963,Ser. No. 263,177 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) This invention primarily relatesto top apparatus for use in a game of skill.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a toy game apparatus inwhich an elongated projectile is adapted to be placed in a verticallyadjustable groove on a wooden lock and struck with a bat in such amanner as to cause the projectile to spin upward both vertically and11011- zontally and, while spinning, to be hit with a bat to add furthermomentum to the flight of the projectile wherein the total flightdistance of the projectile can be measured and compared with othercompetitors.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for supportingthe projectile so that it can be adjusted to various angles with respectto the player so that the initial upward flight of the projectile can beso varied so as to position the projectile adjacent the player so thathe may again hit the projectile.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of anovel storage compartment for the projectiles used in the gamecomprising part of the apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention resides in means to firmly anchorthe apparatus to the ground when in use.

A still further object of this invention resides in the fact that theapparatus is formed of material which is adapted to absorb shocks andvibrations imparted thereto and is of simple construction and operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus comprising the subjectmatter of the instant invention and shows a player utilizing saidapparatus and game just prior to propelling the projectile.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the game apparatus.

FIGURE 3 is a side view in elevation of the game apparatus illustratedin FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane definedby line 44 of FIGURE 2 and illustrates certain details of constructionof the game apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along plane 5-5 of FIGURE 3 andillustrates further details of the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the projectile support ofthe game apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the game apparatus of thepresent invention comprises a projectile support generally designated bythe numeral 10 formed of solid wood stock or the like including ahorizontal portion 12 and an elongated inclined oriented launching pador ramp section 14. The launching pad section 14 has a longitudinallyextending and upwardly opening semi-cylindrical groove 16 cut thereinfor receiving a hard rubber projectile 18 having rubber fins or vanes 20secured to the rear portion thereof. Said vanes 20 will tend to steadythe flight of the projectile. The groove 16 formed in 14 has laterallyoffset rectangular cutouts 22 and 24 which receive the vanes or fins 20and stationarily correctly position the projectile 18 on the launchingramp 14.

It will be noted that forward end or the nose portion of the projectile18 extends beyond the forward end portion of the launching ramp 14 sothat a player 26 holding a club or bat 28 may impart a downward force tothe nose of the projectile to cause the projectile to spin upward andforward through the air. While the projectile is spinning in the airabove and forwardly of the ramp 14 the player 26 may again attempt tohit the projectile in a forward direction.

To control the height and forward distance of spin when a projectile 18is struck by a downward blow of the club or bat 28 while resting in thegroove 16 means have been provided to adjust the angular orientation ofthe launching ramp with respect to the ground surface. Said adjustmentmeans comprises a Wooden base 30 to which the ramp 14 is hingedlyconnected by means of a metallic hinge 32 having one leaf or plate 34movably fastened to the base 39 and the other leaf or plate 36 removablyfastened to the launching pad 14, a suitable hinge pin 38 pivotallyconnecting the two metallic plates 34, 36. In order to retain thelaunching pad 14 in a pre'adjusted angular position, a pair of arcuateplates 40 and 42 are fastened to side walls 44 and 46 of the base 30 andsnugly and embracingly receive the ramp 14 therebetween. The arcuateplates 40 and 42 have arcuate slots 48 and 50 formed therein slidablyguiding a suitable pivot bolt 52 slidably received in a bore 54 drilledthrough the launching pad 14. The bolt 52 has a threaded shank 56adjacent one end which threadably receives a locking washer 58 and awing nut 66 The plate 40 has suitable angularly spaced score lines 62adjacent its arcuate edge which are adapted to cooperate with a suitablemark such as the arrow 64 on the launching pad for quick reference to apreviously assumed angular position of the launching pad With referenceto FIGURE 4 the angular adjustment of the projectile and launching padwith respect to the ground level should now be readily apparent. Theplayer merely loosens the wing nut 60 and by grasping the knob 66adjacent the horizontal portion 12 the launching pad may be pivotedabout the pivot pin 38 while the bolt 52 lies in the arcuate slots 48and 50 of the plates 40 and 42 respectively. When a suitable angularposition has been reached the player merely retightens the wing nut toeffectively clamp the launching pad between the plates 40 and 42 in thedesired adjusted position. The arrow 64 will then be disposed adjacentone of the graduations 62 whereby if a subsequent player changes theangle of orientation of the projectile, the former player will have aready reference to readjust the angle of the projectile to his ownparticular play position. The foregoing operation is clearly illustratedin phantom lines in FIGURE 4.

It should also be noted that the base 30 is hollow to form a compartment68 which may be used to store projectiles when the game apparatus is notin use or to store spare projectiles. The horizontal portion 12 and thelaunching pad 14 provide a convenient cover element.

To stabilize the structure and support the same upon the ground asuitable stabilizing pad 70 has been provided. The pad 70 has aplurality of apertures 72, 74, 76, and '7 8 placed at the four cornersof the pad to receive suitable spike members to anchor the pad 70,launching pad 14 and base 30 to the ground. The spikes 80 areconveniently stored between a pair of strap members 82 and 84 havingarcuate raised portions 86 mounted upon the horizontal portion 12 of theapparatus. The pad 70 is made of hard rubber or other suitablecomparable material to absorb any shocks or vibrations transmittedthereto by the launching pad 14 and base member 30.

The rubber pad 70 also has a rear stabilizing portion 88 having anaperture 99 which also receives one of the spikes 80. The base 30 isconnected to the rubber pad 70 by means of suitable holding strips 92,94, 96 and 98 which are positioned in recesses in the bottom of therubber pad 70 so as to present as flat a surface as .possible to beplaced on the ground and mount fasteners typically shown by the fastener100 which extends through the pad 70 and into the lower portion of thebase 30.

Summarizing the use of the apparatus for the specified gameflhe playerimparts a downward force tothe projectile at its nose portion thuscausing it to spin upwardly and forwardly into the air whereupon he thentries to propel it forwardly by means of the club or bat 28. Suitablereference marks or play areas have been delineated on the rubber pad 70as shown at 102 for indicating a reference line for measuring thedistance to which the projectile has been propelled. Furthermore, a gamecan be so played as to score points for propelling the projectileforwardly or into orbit as indicated by the markings 104 and points maybe deducted from the players score by the player hitting a dud whichcomprises having the projectile instead of being forwardly propelledrearwardly propelled as indicated at 106 and utilizing the planarreference area or line 138 as the delineation point. It should beobvious that the uses of the apparatus comprising the subject matter ofthe instant invention are unlimited and that the game presented therebycan be played in many different ways. This is only limited by the usersimagination.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A game apparatus comprising a base, an elongated inclined ramp, meanspivotally securing one end of said ramp to said base for rotation abouta horizontal axis extending transversely of said ramp, an elongatedprojectile, c'oacting means carried by said projectile and said rampstationarily supporting said projectile on saidram-p with saidprojectile extending longitudinally of said ramp and having one endportion projecting upwardly and out wardly beyond said one end of saidramp, said axis being disposed beneath and in general vertical alignmentwith the upper terminal end of said ramp, and means operativelyconnected to said base and said ramp releasably securing said ramp inadjusted rotated positions relative to said base.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said base includes stabilizing andvibration dampening means adapted to anchor said launching pad to asupporting surface.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said stabilizing and vibrationdampening means includes a rubber pad extending laterally and rearwardlybeneath said launching ramp, means securing said rubber pad to saidlaunching ramp and stake means removably inserted through said rubberpad at a plurality of locations adjacent the periphery thereof foranchoring said rubber pad to said supporting surface.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably securingsaid ramp in adjusted position includes,'a pair of plates having arcuateguide slots rigidly joined to said base and extending upwardly therefromin abutting engagement with the sides of said one end portion of saidlaunching ramp, pin means extending through said launching ramp andarcuate slots and fastening means carried by said pin meansv forsecuring said pin means in a selected position in said arcuate slots.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said ramp includes a longitudinalsemi-cylindrical groove in which said projectile is received.

6. The combination'of claim 1 wherein said coacting means stationarilysupporting said projectile on said ramp comprise laterally outwardlyprojecting fins carried by said projectile and upwardly opening groovesformed in said ramp in which at least some of said fins are received.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein registrable coacting means forindicating the angular orientation of the launching ramp are carried bysaid launching ramp and plates.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 712,634 11/1902Aronstein 272-76 1,721,704 7/1929 Madaschi 46-74 X 1,935,370 11 1933Nekuda 273-9s 2,279,857 4/1942 Bodnav 12 4 2,474,054 5/1949 Jones 124.29 2,918,751 12/1959 Johnson 4674 2,992,005 7/1961 Lockhart 273-495 vFOREIGN PATENTS 589,556 12/1959 Canada.

RICHARDC. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

1. A GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASE, AN ELONGATED INCLINED RAMP, MEANSPIVOTALLY SECURING ONE END OF SAID RAMP TO SAID BASE FOR ROTATION ABOUTA HORIZONTAL AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID RAMP, AN ELONGATEDPROJECTILE COACTING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID PROJECTILE AND SAID RAMPSTATIONARILY SUPPORTING SAID PROJECTILE ON SAID RAMP WITH SAIDPROJECTILE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID RAMP AND HAVING ONE ENDPORTION PROJECTING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID ONE END OF SAIDRAMP, SAID AXIS BEING DISPOSED BENEATH AND IN GENERAL VERTICAL ALIGNMENTWITH